As the holiday season approaches, Begick Nursery & Garden Center in Frankenlust Township, Michigan undergoes a remarkable transformation. Staff members prepare for Christmas as early as January, meticulously planning and organizing a vast array of festive decorations that will fill the center from floor to ceiling. The annual shift from summer plants to holiday cheer has become a beloved tradition in the Bay County community.
By the time customers arrive in November, the nursery has evolved into a vibrant wonderland. According to Raymond Schwall, the general manager, the display features tens of thousands of items, including numerous Christmas trees adorned with an abundance of lights and ornaments. Each year, the center sells every Christmas item available, drawing in families eager to kick off their holiday celebrations.
From Garden Center to Holiday Haven
The shift to Christmas decorations began approximately 60 years ago, when the nursery sought to maintain relevance during the quieter winter months. “When you’re in the nursery, garden center business, there’s not much happening in December, so this was a niche for us that started out as selling fresh-cut trees and lights,” Schwall explained. Over the decades, the offerings have expanded to include a diverse selection of ornaments, garlands, wreaths, and even figurines representing various holiday characters, particularly different versions of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
The decorations are organized into themed displays. One section features trees draped in snowy-white ornaments, while another offers a “jungle” theme, showcasing ornaments mimicking the coats of exotic animals. A notable display includes a Coca-Cola-themed tree, decorated with miniature pop bottle ornaments.
Planning and Peak Sales Season
The extensive planning for the holiday season starts in January, with staff ordering items and designing the layout for the upcoming festive displays. By June, they begin marking prices, and the physical transformation of the store commences around Labor Day. Schwall noted that the busiest shopping period occurs the weekend after Thanksgiving, as families gather for the holidays and make it a tradition to visit the garden center.
Items at Begick range in price from about $3 to $1,000, accommodating a wide range of budgets. Schwall recounted a memorable instance when a family purchased every ornament from two trees, illustrating the store’s ability to cater to customers looking for something special for their holiday celebrations. “They definitely got something new for Christmas,” he said.
Located at 5993 Westside Saginaw Road, less than five miles southwest of Bay City, Begick Nursery & Garden Center continues to be a focal point for holiday shopping in the region. For more information about their offerings, customers can find Begick on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
